A/N: To those who have reviewed--thank you for the reviews! To those who favorite-authored--thanks for that, too! I hope you like the new chapter!

Chapter Two: Introductions

"A-ha! Found you!" sang Luna, as she pulled wide the door to a compartment near the rear of the car. She turned to face Ron and their new friend, and smiled benignly.

Neville Longbottom, Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were inside, and all four smiled at Luna as she made her grand entrance. She was wearing a tiara made of intricately folded bubblegum wrappers, an oversized olive-green jumper whose sleeves were at least six inches too long, and a pair of men's tweed trousers tucked into the tops of scuffed white go-go boots. The only thing that indicated that she was now fifteen and aware of it was the shockingly bright red of her new lipstick.

"Hello, Luna," said Ginny brightly. "It's good to see you again."

Luna took a step forward, leaned down, and looked directly into Ginny's eyes. "We have company," she said in her most serious tone.

She then plopped down on the seat next to Ginny and pulled The Quibbler up in front of her face, upside-down as usual. Everyone else turned to look at Ron, standing red-faced in the doorway, hands buried in his pockets.

"'Allo, Ron!" chirped Hermione. When he only returned a feeble smile, she furrowed her brow. "What's wrong?"

Her large ginger tom, Crookshanks, uncurled himself from his position on her lap and padded slowly over to the door, then stopped suddenly and let out an angry hiss.

"Crookshanks! Don't be so rude!" Hermione snapped, leaning over to pick him up. He spat and hissed, and refused to be still. "Calm down!" she pleaded, stroking his nappy fur.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Ron," sighed Ginny. "Quit standing there like a blithering idiot, and come in and sit dow--"

"Hi," said the girl, stepping into the compartment. "I believe we saw each other earlier--Ginevra, is it?"

"Ginny," she corrected, shaking her hand and making room between herself and Luna.

Crookshanks growled. Luna peeked over the top of her paper as the girl sat down, but said nothing and vanished again.

"Is she--" Neville began, but Harry cut him off.

"What did you do to Draco? The moment he saw you, he forgot completely about tormenting me!"

"He turned and ran blindly into the crowd, is what he did," amended Ginny.

"You scared off Malfoy?" Ron sputtered, suddenly reanimated. He sank down into the seat next to Hermione, and practically on top of her. "Erm, sorry, 'Mione," he muttered.

"Don't call me that," she said, rolling her eyes.

Ron blinked. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me," he said, and scratched his head.

"I can't believe you made Draco Malfoy turn pale! ...Not that he isn't already, I mean," said Neville.

"Who are you, anyway?" asked Harry.

She blushed and looked away.

"Yes, who are you? Ron, why don't you introduce your friend?" contributed Ginny.

"Well, I--this is--"

She smiled. "It's all right; I don't know your name, either! Sorry to be so rude. My name is Vaelyrie Lynne , but you can call me Vael. I'm a new transfer student from the United States."

Hermione looked a bit cross. "Hogwarts doesn't normally take transfers," she pointed out.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation," Harry snapped at her. At her hurt expression, he immediately softened. "I mean, erm..." He sunk low in his seat.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Vael. I'm Ron Weasley." Vael and Ron shook hands; she looked around the car at the others.

"And I'm Ron's sister, Ginny Weasley."

"I'm Neville Longbottom."

"Luna Lovegood," Luna sang from behind her paper; but rather than offer her hand, she simply went on muttering softly to herself.

"Hermione Granger."

Finally Vael set her eyes on Harry. "I'm Harry Potter," he said with a sheepish smile.

The Harry Potter? Vael had to hold herself back from leaping forward and attacking him then and there, for surely he had the answers she was seeking. His scar, her scar--they were connected, somehow, and she wanted--no, needed to know. Still, she couldn't let on her secrets just yet. Rather, she pushed up her jaw before anyone could see it hanging open, and extended her warmest greeting.

"Pleased to meet you," she said. "Pleased to meet you all."

They seemed satisfied with the introduction, and went on to chat amongst themselves. Hermione pulled Harry aside for some whispered conversation; Neville, Ron, and Ginny talked about the Chudley Cannons' latest quidditch match against the Tornadoes; and Luna went on mumbling. Vael looked around the compartment, studying her new friends carefully.

Neville looked more handsome this year: like Ron, he had grown taller and more muscular but was still young-looking for sixteen, and it showed nowhere more than in his round, boyish face. He wore a sharp-looking pair of loafers and khaki trousers, and his oxford shirt was crisply ironed and neatly tucked in. Whatever wild side he had, he hid well behind a shy exterior. Vael guessed it wouldn't be too difficult to get him to open up to her, given time.

Ginny, however, looked ready and eager for friendship. Her long, wavy flame-red hair was pulled back neatly and pinned; she wore little makeup though she still had a beautiful face. However, her fashions left much to be desired. She wore a plaid jumper and a knee-length black skirt with many pleats. Her shoes looked to be at least two years old, and were black mary janes with a small heel and a t-strap. Vael imagined that, with the right clothes, Ginny would look like a model: her figure was lean yet perfect, with the most desirable set of curves.

Hermione, too, had a gorgeous body, although she was completely unaware of it. She had to be, to go out looking like that: dungarees, slightly faded from wear, worn down to a fray at the hem where they were an inch too long; a pink blouse that was at least one size too large; no makeup whatsoever; and a frightening blue pouch on a cord that hung around her neck. Worst of all--not counting that horrid cat--were her tennis shoes, which had dingy laces. Vael swore to herself that she would make Hermione beautiful, starting with her hair: less bushy, and a few blond and red highlights--and she'd be a princess.

Harry, now--he was another matter. Vael could tell that he was meant to be someone special, someone important. He was handsome and tall and a little too thin; his hair was thick and wild, and covered his scar almost completely. His eyes were as penetrating as ever in their gaze, and the new glasses--with more rectangular frames--made him look intelligent and wise. The black clothes he wore made him look almost gothic. She wanted to connect with him. As she watched Harry and Hermione chat, she felt a strange stirring, like butterfly wings in her chest. What could it mean?

Somehow the conversation between Neville and the two Weasleys turned to this year's coursework; Neville brightened considerably at the mention of herbology, which was his favorite. He took his Mimbulus mimbletonia out from its carry case--though still in its pot, it had grown larger and strangely beautiful, and was more active than ever.

"Wow, Neville! My, hasn't it got big!" exclaimed Ginny.

"Is that really a Mimbulus mimbletonia?" Vael gasped, leaning towards it. "It looks so much like my father's, when it was little."

"Your dad had one?" said Neville, blushing furiously as she reached out to pet it.

"It was a gift from my mother," Vael replied. As the tips of her fingers brushed the plant, it glowed and rippled with a gold shimmer.

"How did you--" Ron started, but was cut off by a loud CRACK of thunder, and a flash of lightning that seemed to tear through the compartment.

"What on earth?" Hermione shouted, pulling up the flap over the window. In the span of half a second, a violent storm had filled the autumn sky, and torrents of rain were beating down on the window.

The Mimbulus mimbletonia let out a shrill sound and Neville quickly tucked it away. Harry and Ron both dived for the window, crowding up against Hermione to try to see outside.

"Blimey," Ron said in awe.

"That can't be a normal storm," said Harry. "Can it?"

"Let me see," begged Ginny, trying to squeeze in between her brother and Hermione.

"They're coming for me..." Vael gasped.

Six pairs of eyes suddenly focused on her.

"For you?" asked Harry.

"Who are they?" demanded Hermione.

"They--" Vael began, swallowing hard. "They..."

The train began to shake; the lights suddenly went out, and for a moment everyone panicked. The entire population of Hogwarts broke out in screams.

"Ron! Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, as she was thrown from her seat, bouncing painfully across the compartment, Crookshanks in her arms.

"Hermione!" shouted Ron.

"Help, anyone!" screamed Ginny--the suitcases stored overhead were falling down on her!

"Ginny!" Harry shouted.

"Sorry!" Ron whimpered as he lost his grip on the chair and smacked into Harry.

Vael stood--or rather, tried to--helplessly watching as the others were tossed about. The shaking got worse; there was a sickening, grinding squeal of metal on metal.

"What's happening?" Neville whined, hands clamped on his ears.

"Daddy!" shrieked Luna, burying herself under The Quibbler and a pile of spilled robes.

And then, just as the sound became unbearable, the great train tipped precariously to the left; everyone tumbled to the wall as in slow motion the Hogwarts Express derailed.

A/N: Cliffhanger! What will happen? Please review--more chapters to come!